The places we spend our time play an important role in our health. From our high streets to our workplaces, we want to improve these settings to make sure they have a positive effect on our health.

To do this, we have organised an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), bringing together parliamentarians and sector stakeholders to come up with the solutions we need to build places that contribute to good health and wellbeing.

What is an APPG?

An APPG is an informal cross-party group. They are formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords who share a common interest in a particular policy area.

Although they aren’t official parliamentary committees, APPGs can be effective at influencing policy change because of their impartial, cross-party approach to an issue.

What is the APPG on Healthy Places?

Inequalities are widening across the country, with those living in the most deprived areas facing shorter life expectancies than those in the least deprived areas.

Our APPG aims to make the environments and communities we spend our time in better for everyone, so that they positively impact our health and reduce inequalities.

It brings together parliamentarians, experts and sector stakeholders to discuss the systemic changes we need to build healthy places, prevent the onset of health conditions and reduce pressure on the NHS.

What did the first meeting discuss?

Chaired by Beccy Cooper MP, the first meeting of the APPG focused on how work can make us healthier. Building on a report published by RSPH earlier this year, the event looked at the impact workplaces have on the health and productivity of the nation.

More than ten million people don’t have access to basic health support at work, and four million people are out of work because of ill health. Only one in eight people say their workplace is very good for their health and wellbeing. We need to fix the workforce health crisis if we want to see a prosperous and healthy society.

The event heard from businesses, trade unions and public health professionals about how Government and businesses can work together to ensure better health outcomes for the workforce. This included:

• How workplaces should prioritise how they can contribute positively to our mental and physical health.
• How we can deliver health services in workplaces through occupational health provisions.
• How occupational health can be adapted and administered to different workforces and businesses, including SMEs and large businesses.

It was clear that there was a desire to do more and go further, including from the MPs who attended the meeting, and we hope Government will use the coming months to set out a clear plan for how they will support employers to improve the health of their workforce.